Sinn Féin’s Michelle Gildernew was the only one of four Westminster candidates who refused to sign a pledge agreeing to lobby the Chief Medical Officer for a health review of fracking.

Fracking was the only topic for discussion at Monday night’s Westminster hustings event in the Lough Erne Resort, organised by Letterbreen and Mullaghdun Partnership (LAMP).

Despite all four candidates in attendance (Michelle Gildernew, Sinn Féin; John Coyle, SDLP; Tanya Jones, Green Party and Tom Elliott, unionist unity) being opposed to hydraulic fracturing, they were quizzed on how exactly they would stop the licences that could potentially lead to fracking.

“I’ve been MP for five years and I haven’t had the ability to stop the licence; that’s not within my gift. It’s not in any of our gifts,” Michelle Gildernew stated. She added that Sinn Féin has “publicly spoken against fracking in the Assembly, the Dáil and the European Parliament as far back as 2011.” John Coyle said he would “make sure the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister is lobbied to make sure a licence isn’t permitted.” Tanya Jones believes that “fracking started in Westminster and it could end there as well.” Tom Elliott said that the UUP’s policy is that “it will not support fracking without an environmental, health and economic assessment.” He said: “The issuing of licences needs to come to the Assembly and should not be at the behest of a single Minister.” Chair of the event, Trevor Armstrong (Director of LAMP) unexpectedly presented the candidates with a pledge which read: “I will work to seek a review of health evidence by the Northern Ireland Chief Medical Officer before any licence for hydraulic fracturing is issued.” Michelle Gildernew responded: “What if the CMO reviews the health evidence and comes back saying: ‘It’s OK to [frack] if it’s done within the regulations’?” LAMP member Diane Little interjected: “We’d like to give the CMO that opportunity; let’s try it. We are not getting a chance to have the health evidence of 450 peer reviewed studies reviewed by Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer. They did it in New York, let’s get this evidence in front of our health minister.” Sean Rasdale, Chairman of Garrison Lough Melvin Anglers Association stated: “It’s a question of whether you trust the Chief Medical Officer or not.” Ms. Gildernew responded: “It’s not that I don’t trust Michael McBride, but I don’t trust very many people when it comes to the needs of this constituency. I will take it away and think about it but I will not sign it tonight.” John Coyle took the pledge away, discussed it with party colleagues and signed it later that evening.

Tanya Jones was cheered and applauded for signing the pledge.

Tom Elliott voiced his annoyance at having a pledge put before him without notice but said: “On this occasion, because I have had several communications with the Chief Medical Officer, I am happy to sign the pledge.” Anti-fracking campaigners at the event included representatives from LAMP, Belcoo Frack Free, Fermanagh Fracking Awareness Network, Love Leitrim and Good Energies Alliance. They believe that Northern Ireland should follow in the footsteps of the New York state health department which tasked the acting State Health Commissioner, Dr. Howard A. Zucker to study the impact of fracking on human health. He found “significant public health risks” associated with fracking and, as a result, fracking was banned in New York state.

They are concerned that the two-year joint research programme led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the Irish Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR); and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) will not adequately examine human health, but will instead seek ways to regulate the industry.

The research contract was awarded to a consortium led by CDM Smith Ireland Limited which supports fracking.

The candidates were asked: “Should we trust the outcome of the EPA report?” In response, Michelle Gildernew said: “The research is led by an industry with a vested interest so you are on a hiding to noting; no, you can’t trust the outcome.” Tanya Jones said: “It’s a scandal that they have been appointed to do this. Energy decisions should be taken by the community.” John Coyle said: “Our ministers have to be strong and direct the research the way they want it.” Tom Elliott insisted that “irrespective of what the EPA report concludes” action needs to be taken on “the issuing of licences.” Asked why she refused to sign the pledge, Michelle Gildernew told The Impartial Reporter: “The manner in which this pledge was presented to us, unannounced and with absolutely no prior notice, not only concerned me but it concerned two of the other candidates also.

“I do not make a habit of signing documents before I have had a chance to read or consider them; therefore I was not going to sign the pledge just because there is an election in a number of days.

“I said I would take the pledge away, read it and consider signing it and that’s what I am doing.” Pint glasses of murky coloured water representing ‘frack fluid’ were offered to the candidates. None of the four candidates drank the water.